Ventilator



Nov. 29, 1949 A. 1'. M. B'lANcANl 2,489446 vENTILAToR Filed July 19,1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l AT TORNEY 'Figure '7 is a Patented Nov. 29, 1949'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE w VENTILATOR Adolph T. M. Biancani, Elko,Nev. Application July 179, 1946, Serial No. 684,636

7 o'lzims. (cl. 98-118) Vwhich can be used for movement of air in eitherdirection, that is, either from the exterior into the room, or from theroom to the exterior.

VA further object of the invention is to provide an improved ventilatorhaving automatically operated closure means for the passage through thehousing, characterized in particular by the fact that the Operatingparts of the same are relatively simple in construction, positive inoperation, and will function for long periods of time without frequentservicing or repairs.

An additional object of the invention is tofprovide an improvedcentrifugal operator for a ventilator of the above character.

` Another object of the invention is to provide improved means forlooking the closures in closed position, and to provide improved meanslfor effecting automatic unlocking of the same.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription in which the preferred embodiments are set forth in detailin conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a ventilator incorporating thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is a view of the ventilator shown in Figure 1 but lookingtoward the front end of the same, with certain of the parts illustratedin section.

Figure 3 is a plan detail showing the spring means for urging the doorstoward both closed and open positions.

-Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1, butwith the propeller and the means for supporting the electric motor beingremoved for clarity.

Figure 5 is a sectional view like Figure 4 but showing the closure doorsin full open position.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

sectional detail on an enlarged Scale taken along the line '-l' ofFigura 4.

Figure 8 is a sectional detail showing a part of the Operatingconnection between the centrifugal operator and the closure doors.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing consistsgenerally of a housing IO which can be formed of suitable sheet metal,and which for convenience is cylindrical shaped and is adapted to beinserted in a wall ll .(Figure 4). Disposed axially within the housingthere is a shaft |2 which can be extended from or directly coupled tothe shaft of an electric driving motor |3. Suitable means such as thesupporting arms |4 serve to carry the motor upon the housing.

Mounted upon the exterior face of the housing Ill are the closure doorsIE. The inner adjacent edges of these doors are attached to the shaftsI'l, which extend diametrically across the housing, and which have theirends pivoted or journaled within the pads or bosses 18, 19. The upperends of the shafts |1 are provided with cranks 2|, which in turn areconnected together by the tension spring 22. When the doors |6 areclosed the spring occupies a position relative to the cranks 2|substantially as illustrated in Figure 3. However when the doors areswung to full open position (Figure 5) the cranks2| pass through deadcenter position with respect to the pull of the spring. Thus the springtends to urge the doors toward full closed and full open positions, froman intermediate dead center position. It is desirable to have the cranks2| together with spring 22 enclosed within the protecting cap 23. Theperipheral edge portions `of the doors seat upon a sealing gasket 25which can be made of resilient material such as rubber. Beyond the doorsthe housing can be provided with a hood lila.

The shaft of the motor is provided with a hub 24, to which the fan orimpeller blades 26 are attached. These blades may be made to enablerotation in either direction, and are proportioned to operate within thehousing Ill. For simplicity they are illustrated diagrammatically bydotted lines in Figures 4 and 5.

A novel type of centrifugal operator 28 is mounted upon the shaft |2adjacent the fan. This operator consists of a plurality of arcuate orcurved members 23, which have considerable weight, including ifnecessary the weighting 3| on their outer free ends. The inner ends ofmembers 29 have pivotal connections 32 with the ears 33.. These ears arefixed to a hub 34, which together with the hub 24 of the impeller, isfixed to the shaft.

A collar 36 is slidably carried by the shaft ll, and certain partsconnect this collar to the doors |6 and to the latching means to bepresently described. Acting between the collar 35 and the members 29there is a thrust transmitting device 31. Collar 36 carries an oilsealed bearing assernbly, the inner sleeve of which is attached todevice 31 and slidable longitudinally upon the shaft |2. A plurality oftension Springs connect between the device 31, and the hub 25: of theimpeller. Members 4| extend radially from the device 31 and providespaced ears between which the members 29 are accommodated. Rollers Q3are mounted between the ears i and receive thrust from the member 29.The journaling of device 31 relative to the hub 35 is such that whenforces are applied to device 3? to move the longitudinally of the shaft,such movement is transmitted to the collar 35. When shaft i is rotatedat a proper` speed oorresponding te a minimum normal speed of operation,members 23 swing outwardly by centrifugal force, thus transmittinglongitudinal movement to device 3-5 and collar 36 against the urge ofSprings 39. 'When the shaft is permitted to come to rest members 29swing inwardly and the parts return to their initial positions shown inFigure 4.

Means are provided for connecting the collar 36 with the door Hi toeffect opening and closing movements of the same. The means illustratedconsists of arms 44 mounted upon collar 35 and extending radially fromthe same, and which have pivotal connections l with the extensible linksdesignated generally at 47. These links in turn have pivotal connectionswith the doors Hi, the connections being located on cpposite sides ofshafts I'l (Figures 4 and The extensible 'links ll'l can be formedsubstantially as illustrated in Figure S. Briefiy they consist of innerand outer telescoping members 41a, 4'lb, together with a compressionspring 5| serving to urge these members apart Member 41a is shownprovided with a flattened side 52, serving to accommodate the stop pinmovement of members dla, ll'lb toward each other is limited byengagement of shoulder 54 with the pin 53. Likewise the shoulder 58strikes a pin 53 to limit movement of members lila, ilb apart. Whencollar 36 is moved by the centrifugal 28 toward the doors IB, thrust istransmitted through the links 41 (with pin 53 and shoulder 54 incontact) to rotate the doors past dead center position with respect tospring 22. Thereafter the doors move quickly under the urge of spring 22to the full open positions shown in Figure 5, and to acoommodate suchmovements parts Lila, ll'lb extend to bring pin 53 in engagernent withshoulder 56. When driving of the shaft is discontinued and collar 36caused to move back to the position illustrated in Figure 4, the doorsare pulled toward closed position past dead center position, andthereafter the doors quickly move under the urge of spring 22 to fullclosed position.

In conjunction with the parts described ah I provide latching meanswhich engag automatically, and which is automatically released forcesfrom the centrifugal device 23. rlhus I provide extensible links 58which have thr ends pivotally connected at ic to the arms of the hub 38,and which have their outer ends provided With pivotal connections 59 tothe side walls of the housing I O. Each of these links consists of aninner rod 58a and an outer sleeve part 58h, which interfittelescopically as shown in Figure 7.

nr ma 1:3

Rod 58a is shown provided with a fiattened portion 6| to accommodate aleaf spring Gil. This leaf spring can be attached to rod 53a tofrictionally engage the inner wall of sleeve 58h, and serves to providea small amount of friction between the parts and to avoid rattling.

Mounted upon each link part 58a, by pivotal connection 62, there is alatch finger 53. A part of this finger is formed by the adjustable stud54l, which has a rounded and generally conical shaped head 66.

In order to limit movement of the latch finger in one direction it isprovided with an arm B7 carrying an adjustable stop screw 58. The end ofthis screw engages an adjacent portion of the rod 58a, thus limitingrotation of the latch in one direction. Each latch finger is alsoprovided with a spring 69 or like means tending to rotate the same in adirection to bring the screw 63 into contact with the adjacent rod a. Inother words as viewed in Figure 5 the left hand latch 'finger 83 isurged in a clockwise direction, and

the right hand latch finger is urged in a counterclockwise direction.

The doors if are provided with latch plates 'll positioned to engage theheads and to latch behind the same when the doors are swung to fnllclosed position. Figure 4 illustrates the latch fingers locked withrespect to the latch plates ll. When the motor l3 is started inoperation and the centrifugal device 28 starts to move the collar '36toward the doors l, the extensible links 58 'are initially swung aboutthe pivotal connection 59 to thereby swing the latch fingers 63 free ofthe latch plates 1|. This initial movement of the extensible link 53 isaccommodated by lost motion in the links 'i, whereby all of theeffective force of the centrifugal device is initially applied for theunlatching action. Thereafter further movement of the collar 35 swingsthe doors to full open positions as previously described. When the doorssnap back to full closed position latch plates 'll slide over and pastthe conical shaped heads to finally latch in full closed position in themanner illustrated in Figure 4. Thus when the ventilator is not in usethe doors are locked closed, unauthorized tampering from the exterior isprevented, and the passage through the ventilator housing is sealed withrespect to the interior.

It will be evident from the foregoing that I provide simple andeffective mechanism enabling .opening and closing of the doorsautomatically,

simple in construction, and can be readily ac- .ccmmcdated for differentsized fans and ventilators. The quick opening and closing action of thedoors l insures full opening action for normal operation of theventilator, and also insures i proper looking with the latch fingers 53.In addition the doors and their Operating mechanism is such that theoperation of the same does not detract from the emciency of operation ofthe fan.

I claim: l. In a ventilator, a housing adapted to "ce inserted in awall, a rotatable shaft carried by the housing, a motor serving to drivethe shaft, an

air moving fan mounted upon the shaft for moving air through thehousing, closure doors pivotally carried by the housing and movablebetween open and closed positions with respect to the passage throughthe housing, spring means connected to move the doors toward eitherclosed or open positions from an intermediate dead center position,centrifugal Operating means carried by the shaft, and means connectingthe centrifugal operating means to the doors to force said doors pastsaid dead center position to cause automatic opening of the doorsresponsive to rotation of the shaft and to force the doors past saiddead center position to close the doors responsive to permitting theshaft to come to rest.

2. In a ventilator, a housing adapted to be inserted in a wall, arotatable shaft carried by the housing, a motor serving to drive theshaft, an impeller mounted upon the shaft for moving air through thehousing, a pair of closure doors having adjacent edges of the samepivoted to the housing on axes extending generally diametrically acrossthe housing, said doors being movable between limiting open and closedpositions with respect to the passage through the housing, spring meansconnected to the doors to move the same toward either closed or openpositions from an intermediate dead center position, centrifugalOperating means carried by the shaft within the housing and adjacent oneside of the closed doors, and means connecting said centrifugal means tosaid doors to force the same past said dead center position in adirection to open the doors when the shaft is rotated and to force saiddoors past said dead center position in a direction to close the samewhen the shaft is permitted to come to rest.

3. In a ventilator, a housing adapted to be inserted in a wall, a shaftcarried by the housing, a motor connected to drive the shaft, apropeller mounted upon the shaft for moving air through the housing,closure doors pivotally carried by the housing and movable between openand closed positions with respect to the passage through the housing,centrifugal Operating means carried by the shaft, latching means forlatching said doors in closed position, means connecting the centrifugalOperating means to the doors to open the same upon rotating the shaftand to close the same when the shaft is permitted to come to rest, andmeans actuated by said centrifugal Operating means to release thelatching means responsive to rotation of the shaft.

4. In a ventilator, a housing adapted to be inserted in a wall, a shaftdisposed axially of the housing, an impeller mounted upon the shaft andserving to move air through the housing, a motor connected to drive theshaft, a pair of closure doors pivotally carried by the housing andmovable between open and closed positions with respect to the passagethrough the housing, centrifugal Operating means carried by the shaft,latching means for locking the doors in closed position, and connectingthe centrifugal operating means to the doors, said last means serving tooperate the doors between open and closed positions, and means actuatedby said centrifugal Operating means to automatically release saidlatching means.

5. A ventilator as in claim 4 in which said latching means includeslatch fingers adapted to engage latch plates on the doors.

6. A ventilator as in claim 4 in which said last means for connectingthe centrifugal operating means to the doors includes a lost motionconnection, and in which the connection between the latching means andthe centrifugal operating means releases the latching means pror toapplying opening movement to the doors.

'7. In a ventilator, a housing adapted to be inserted in a Wall, a shaftdisposed axially of the housing, an impeller mounted upon the shaftserving to move air through the housing, a motor connected to drive theshaft, closure doors pivotally carried by the housing and movablebetween open and closed positions with respect to the passage throughthe housing, centrifugal operating means carried by the shaft, meansconnecting the centrifugal Operating means to the doors to operate thedoors between open and closed positions responsive to rotation andstoppage of the shaft, latching means for locking the doors in closedposition, said latching means including latch devices movable betweenlatch engaging and release positions, and means connecting said latchdevices to said centrifugal operating means to move said latch devicesbetween release and engaging positions responsive to ro-` tation andstoppage of the shaft.

ADOLPH T. M. BIANCANI.

REFERENCES CITED' The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STA'I'ES PATENTS FORE'IGN PATENTS Country Date Germany July 9,1903 Number Number

